Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-04-01
CAPT. PARSONS VIEWS.
Mr.. Blaine's Popuiarity-what Defeated
Him In 'SI.


publican in the South in 1884 was H. G..
Parsons He is native Vermonter, who
settled in Virginia after the war, in which
he fought in the Vermont cavalry, and he
now owns the Natural Bridge, is heavily
engaged in the coal, iron and railroad
business in the Shenandoah Valley, and
also president of the Cincinnati and North
eastern railroad, an Ohio corporation. He
has been known as the friend and polit-
cal advocate of Mr.. Blaine for many years.
Natural Bridge was a favorite resort of
Mr.. Blaine while he was living at Wash
ington. Captain Parsons was interviewed
in New York the other day on the political
situation, and is reported as saying:
'There is no reason for contest between
the friends of Blaine and Sherman
Neither, with the present outlook could
greatly desire the nomination. If it ap.
pears that Sherman could draw larger
vote than Blaine, Blaine would doubtless
repay the magniti cent support that Sher-
man gave him in the last campaign. The
democratic administration is now in
power. The conditions are not unfavora
BILE to it. The late elections have little ad-
verse significance. The times are pros
porous. The fear of change will initiate
for it, The president has made mistakes,
but, on the whole, he has proved himself
a sagacious politician. The man who
could appoint a colored barber as register
of wills in the city of Washington, as
| against the fearful pleadings of the most
aristocratic and loyal of his party, was
able to distinguish with method and with
out mercy between Washington, which
cannot vote, and Massachusetts which
can. Will Blaine consent to lead the next
campaign? He alone can answer, and he
cannot afford to answer yet If he shall
| consent TO be a candidate the contest is
| over For it is a thing impossible, with
the present temper, to convene a represent
tative body of the Republican party that
would not nominate him. Blaine was
never so strong rs in his present retire
ment. 1t is not possible to call his name
in a republican gathering today, either in
New Jersey, or Michigan, or Boston, with
out the answering cheer that no other
name calls forth"
But the party is defeated ?"
'The republican party did not meet its
| great defeat in 1884. Its leaders ackuowl-
edged disaster i'll September, 1876. and
nothing but the earnest support of the
Grant administration, II general asse.,s-
ment of Office holders and large contribu-
tons from New York turned the ti,s in
favor of Hayes and Whee."l. Dl,i4,er
WAS again acEnOW .c,lGtd Ia SeEieutrr
| 1850. immense sums Ot money were
poured INTO Indiana heaV' a~seSsnleuts
OF oiiice-hOiders AMI the bHrgtlI VIIu the.
Stal warts secured the election OF Garfield
Disaster was again apparent III 81 pttmbrr
1851. There was no vigorous support OF
the administration, no assessment OF Office.
holders, no assessment of Wall street. no
trade with malContents for Baine-nutn-
ing but his own personality; and from
the moment that he threw himself into
the contest the tide rose toward victory
Ia 81. 4 ..lx
was stronger in defeat than it had been in
years"
But you lost large section of indepen
dents ?"
True, but the masses had regarded with
Jealousy class vi self styled leaders. They
were suspicious of anything pro. English
or free trade. They We're disturbed by the
charge that money controlled Its elections
ana when IL was stated that the tree
traders had gone to Cleveland and that
Wall street would not suppart Blaine
there came Il sense of relief The party
became coherent and confident. The III
dependents were more notable than mum.
erouS. They were arrogant, impractical
bic and inconsistent. Their great leader
at Chicago In writing protested that no
oftce-holder should sit III the convention
and then supported Il colOred collector OF
internal revenue for It's presiding officer
| Their greatest orator, minister To england
by republican appointment, congratulat-
Ell Cleveland when he demanded his head
| and returned to deliver Il two hours ora.
ton in Harvard Memorial hall, i'll which
he found no occasion to speak of the sol
der dead, but electrified cultured audi.
ence Oy apoStrophlZlnS peace democrat
| AS the typical man of courage. The com
mon people brought up their reserves
when there was faltering at the font.
The Burchard incident did not defeat
| Blaine. When Blaine invited to its sup
port 50 900 lrshmen he took with them the
risk of stampede; and it is less remark
able that 10000 tailed than that II, 900
supported him."
us Blaine rs strong Ms his party ?"
Except i'll Indiana and Massachusetts
| he has proven stronger than his party
| Without him all The Pacific States, Micbi-
gan and Wisconsin become contested
ground. Taking seven doubtful States
| and comparing their votes in 1882, 1854 and
| 1885, you Will lind tnat in California the
Democratic majority in 1882 was % $40,
but it went for Blaine in 1854, by l3, l3S,
and was again democratic i'll 1886. Colo
| RADIO went democratic, 5,3i5, in 1882 Tor
| Blaine, S,56f, and democratic again in
| 1856. Connecticut gave a democratic ma
! Jorlty III loS2 OF 4,lsl, while Cleveland's
| majority was only PSI. New Jersey gave
democratic majority in 1882 OF 2,U93 II
! democratic majority IN 1854 OF t, 442 large
! ly caused by tue prohibition vote, and a
democratic majority III 1856 of 3 02O. New
/ VI II wv ~ 'CilibCIdllC III 1907 Dl O,fDU
ana III lsSG by ISIS, while the majority
/ over Blaine was only 1910. la Wisconsin
the democratic majority in 1852 was 9,C34
aud the > ate was carried for Blaine by
| lLG0S. West Virginia, which gave II las
majority for, Hancock, gave only Il,
against Blaine"
what, then, caused republican de-
! feat ~
The real cause of republican defeat was
the candidacy OF st. John. Although The
republican party had surrendered tens Of
thousands Of votes in its advocacy of tenn
perance, this movement drew away from
the republican candidate 10000 votes in
New York, 1000 in Connecticut and & 600
in New Jersey. And this movement wa-
not aimed at the candidate, but at the pol
icy of the party"
still you have not said whether Blaine
Will he the candidate ~
THE relations OF Blaine to his party are
somewha similar to those of Clay to the
wing party and of lilden to the demo
cratic party, after defeat. The great mass
OF the wing party believed that Clay was